SORRY FOR THE WAIT! ENJOY!
Lea looked disgusted at his food, shrugged, and then took a handful of what he could only call alien boogers- Lea and his imagination- on a plate. He was surprised to discover that this meal was actually delicious. That Dilan really was a talented cook. Lea was brought out of his daydream by Isa who slinked down in the chair across from him. Isa looked at the food and then at Lea's "alien- booger" covered face and then shook his head.
"What? It tastes awesome!" Lea giggled, picking up a fork and shovelling another load into his mouth. "Really, try it!"
"Nah, I'd prefer not to eat something that looks like an alien sneezed it out," Isa spoke.
"We've been around each other too much, haven't we?" Lea laughed, astonished at his friends similar imagination to him.
"Unfortunately, yes we have. But I know much more about you than you about me, coz I listen."
"I know everything about you!"
"Oh, really? Mention one interesting thing about me!"
"Uhh… Your real name is Isabella?"
"Wow, and I thought you'd say something stupid…"
"It was worth a shot… okay… you seem really protective of that necklace you have on! I tried to touch it when you were in the hospital and you went bat-shit crazy. You care a lot about it."
"Okay… but that doesn't prove you listen. Why do I care about the pendant so much?"
"Uhh… oh I know this! It… it was your aunt's! Ha ha! Screw you I knew one!"
Isa lowered his head. "I miss my aunty," Isa's tone changed to a sad one.
"What happened with her? You've never told me!"
"Nah, just forget it!"
"Hey, those words are not in my vocabulary! I got it memorised!"
Isa rolled his eyes and sighed. "She sacrificed everything for me. She rescued me from my parents until I was twelve. That's when she gave up her life for me. I dunno why but my dad told me I was the reason why she died. This pendant was the last thing she gave me. It was made of moonstone and had been passed down for generations in my family, but she didn't trust my dad with it. It's the only memory I have of her. I like to think she's with me when I wear it. That's why I can't let go of it" Isa frowned, clearly upset. Enter Lea.
"Anyway, let's change the subject; did someone talk to you about the experiment?"
"Yeah, I was about to ask you what you thought about it," Isa replied, still a bit shaken.
"I'm totally in for it if you are!" Lea enthused, clapping his hands together excitedly. "I mean just think about it. We could be seen as heroes who saved Radiant Garden from falling to darkness and they would elect me to replace Ansem! Won't be long until we get ice-cream for meals, Isa!"
"Although I am totally sure all that would happen, I still can't shake the feeling that something could go wrong," Isa voiced. "C'mon Lea, it's our hearts we're talking about here!"
"Well, Braig told me that it had no risks," Lea told.
"Was he sure?"
"He sounded it. He pretty much mocked me for thinking it carried risks. Plus, it's Ansem and Even who will be experimenting on us. They are genies!"
"I think you mean genii, Lea. Well, I told myself that if you were okay with it I would be too."
"Okay, so we're doing this then?"
"Apparently so."
"So Xeh, what's the point of filling Isa's heart with darkness when your plan involves them losing their hearts anyway?" Braig questioned, leaning closer towards his friend across the table.
"Well, I believe that these more powerful beings they may turn into will not have lost their hearts forever. You see I feel that the empty shell left behind will yearn for a replacement and may even grow back their own heart," Xehanort whispered. "Since Isa will have a darkened heart, if it grows back it should come back as that same darkened heart. He probably wouldn't be able to tell his heart was back, since it will be made of not just his darkness, but also mine and Lea's. I'm sure we both know that if his heart stays in that darkness, it will be much easier for my own to take over his heart completely."
"Ah, I think I gots it," Braig chortled and looked at his plate. "Brilliant, it's alien snot day! Yummy!"
"Well, I think I'll leave you to that," Xehanort sneered and got up from his chair. "I'll hear Lea and Isa's verdict."
Lea had just wolfed down Isa's lunch on top of his own as Xehanort took the seat beside Isa and diagonal to where Lea sat.
"Master Ansem wants to hear what the two of you have decided," Xehanort said, looking disgusted at Lea's similarity to Braig when it came to eating.
"We've decided to go for it," Isa announced.
"Wonderful!" Xehanort rejoiced. "It's a very promising experiment to tackle the darkness threatening Radiant Garden at the moment. I really appreciate your participation."
Lea glared at the man who only seemed to be talking to Isa even though they were both in on this. Xehanort turned and smiled at the glaring boy and handed him a napkin. Lea grabbed it from him, wiped his mouth then handed it back, much to Xehanort's disgust.
"Thanks," Lea spoke through a full mouth. Xehanort was still looking at the repulsive napkin, stood and walked like a zombie to the nearest trash can. He came back, wiping his hands on his lab coat and put on a fake smile.
"We shall be seeing you two tomorrow morning then?" Xehanort requested.
"Wait, does it have to be so soon?" Lea voiced, spitting food all over the table and once again, all over his face. Xehanort reluctantly handed him another napkin.
"Are you questioning Lord Ansem's intentions?" Xehanort fumed. He all of a sudden appeared to be furious. Something in those eyes told Lea exactly what this man was feeling, and it wasn't good. Plus, it was for no good reason! "Well, ARE YOU DOUBTING OUR LEADER!?"
"N-no sir, I just thought Th-that we'd have more time to prepare ourselves that's a-all," Lea faltered. He looked to Isa instead of those murderous eyes and found that Isa's eyes were filled with warmth. Lea could see that Isa was scared too, but chose to hide it to comfort Lea. To not be scared. If anything, Isa was actually more frightened than Lea.
'That's Isa for you, always putting my feelings first,' Lea thought, letting his fear drain away. "I apologise," Lea told, hoping the man would calm himself. Suddenly the cloud of anger around Xehanort dissipated and he was his smiling self again.
"Don't worry, boy," he re-assured Lea. "There's no need to fear me." Really?! "I expect Lea to go to Ansem's study tomorrow morning at 10AM exactly. Isa, you come to Even's lab at exactly 9.30AM, okay?"
Both boys hesitantly nodded. Lea groaned inside his mind. Why is it that early? There goes my long sleep tomorrow. Xehanort smiled and left the boys to dread the coming days. As soon as Lea could no longer see Xehanort, he let out a very audible sigh and over-exaggerated his sulking.
"What is wrong with that guy?" Lea whispered angrily. "He had no reason to get so pissed like that!"
"He did lose his temper," Isa agreed, "but it's probably just stress. He's usually okay."
"Hmm… It better be," Lea sulked but snapped out of it when he saw Isa's sweet smile. Suddenly Lea was reminded of a certain something that Braig said.
"But I don't think courage and your Frisbees are going to protect Isa from the darkness. You'd probably need a heart completely devoid of darkness to do that."
He said it so surely, as if Isa was assured to fall to darkness.
Isa began to wonder why Lea was puzzling for so long so placed a hand on his shoulder. Lea snapped out of his thoughts and grinned at Isa.
"Say Isa, I dunno if you remember me saying to you, but if anything goes wrong," Lea began, "or if… you start walking down a dark path alone, I'll always try my hardest to bring you back."
"Wow… think I just threw up in my mouth," Isa chortled. Lea responded by smacking him playfully on the head.
"I'm being serious!" Lea protested.
"Yeah right, like you'd save me! I'm the one who saves you every other day!"
"Well, I'll pluck up the courage when it really matters, okay?"
"Okay and I'll always be around to protect you."
"Hey, I don't need to be protected by anyone. I'm too awesome!"
"Oh yeah, you really sounded 'awesome' when you got trapped in a corner by Kairi's grandmother's cat and you were screaming 'help me Isa, it has claws!' and then Kairi saved you."
"That wasn't a proud moment for me. It's been a while since we've seen Kairi isn't it?"
"Yeah… she always got us flowers."
"What do you say to going to see her the next time we get the day off?"
"Uhh… I guess that couldn't hurt. And Lea…"
"Yup?" Lea asked.
"Thanks for cheering me up, you always know what to say."
Lea responded by pretending to gag.
"Oh ha ha!" Isa sarcastically sang.
THE NEXT DAY- 10AM
"Okay, let's just…" Lea began and yawned the rest of his sentence while stretching and walking into Ansem's lab, "get on with this already."
Ansem was impressed at how Lea was actually able to awaken before his usual time of 3PM. Ansem had clearly set up all the equipment. Lea had failed to notice that Aeleus was in the room too. He was just so quiet! Lea smiled at him.
"Thought you'd like a friend here for comfort," Ansem told. Ansem signalled for Lea to sit on a very comfortable looking hospital bed and Lea happily complied. "Now you can relax, Lea. You're in safe hands and it is all for the greater good. We are trying to make your heart shine with its true potential. Shine just like the sun."
"Cool!" Lea rejoiced. "Make my heart bright like a fire. Fire is awesome!"
"Y-yes… however we are not going to extract all of the darkness right away. We want absolutely no risk of the heart collapsing. We're going to split it into 2 sessions, since your heart has average darkness, being about a quarter. However, your friend apparently needs three sessions because he has more darkness."
"What do you mean 'apparently'? Did you not check yourself?"
"No, one of our colleagues did the job of checking."
"Please tell me it was Even!"
"Yes it was Even… why? Would someone else bother you?"
"No I was just curious. Anyway docs I need to get rid of some of this darkness and I needs your help." Lea lay on the bed and made himself comfortable.
Braig entered the room practically skipping with a glass container which appeared to be carrying a bright light within it. He whistled and handed over the container to Ansem, with a mischievous grin on his face. Something felt wrong.
"Remember to return to take Lea's darkness to be destroyed," Ansem reminded.
"Yeah yeah, I got it!" Braig chortled.
Braig stuck his thumb up at the boy and laughed. He waved goodbye to the three in the room and left with a slamming of the door.
"Where did that light come from?" Lea questioned.
"Oh, it's artificial light we created while studying experiments we've done before. Don't worry its safe."
The last thing Lea saw before being put to sleep was Ansem and Aeleus' warm, smiling faces. However he felt a third presence in the room with him.
Isa?
Isa was asleep in Even's lab. The first part of Isa's light was extracted very quickly and easily but the problem was keeping him stable while Braig returned with Lea's first darkness extraction. He had already given Ansem Isa's light but he had gone again to retrieve the darkness. He was taking forever. Xehanort grasped Isa's hand while Even paced the room ranting about Braig's tardiness. When Braig burst in the door he was met with glares from the other two men.
"Sorry!" Braig defended himself, "But I have Lea's darkness!"
Even stormed up to the man, still ranting, and snatched the container from Braig's hands. He sped to Isa and handed the container to Xehanort.
"The boy's going to be okay isn't he," Even queried. "Won't a heart full of darkness change the boy altogether or even destroy his heart?"
"Even, my friend, he will be fine," Xehanort assured him "This is only temporary. Now you can leave. But make sure that Ansem does not see you."
Even bowed and obeyed his wishes. He gave Braig a glare on his way out. Braig mocked this.
"You leave too!" Xehanort yelled, pointing at Braig.
"What!?" Braig spluttered. "I did all that and I can't even see what happens?"
"LEAVE!" Xehanort screamed at him. Braig decided not to argue since he knew how Xehanort would get. He bowed and left.
Xehanort stared at Isa who appeared to be in some pain due to his strained expression as he slept.
"Isa," he said to the sleeping boy. "You remind me of the moon."
He looked outside at the bright blue sky. The moon was out along with the sun.
"It looks much better surrounded by darkness."
Both boys slept for the rest of the day. Isa was the first to wake since Lea hadn't slept to 3PM that day. He awoke to find Ienzo standing near his bed. He felt numb because of the amount of potions he had.
"Good morning, Isa," Ienzo greeted. "Xehanort said that Even said that the experiment went great."
"That's good," Isa spoke, shocked at his croaky voice. He cleared his throat. "How long have you been here looking after me?"
"About 2 hours, don't worry I had my book!" Ienzo announced proudly. "Xehanort is expecting you back up and about by the afternoon. You've to report to him after lunch."
"Seriously?" Isa groaned. He sat up in the bed. "What time is it now?"
"Uhh…" Ienzo looked at his watch, "Lunch time."
Isa groaned again and placed his feet onto the cold floor. Ienzo handed him clothes and Isa thanked him. He looked away while Isa quickly changed.
"Do you want to sit with us at lunch," Ienzo invited. "After all, Lea's still asleep."
"Oh Uhh… I guess," Isa stuttered. "Thanks." He was finished with his clothes and followed Ienzo to the cafeteria. They both grabbed food and sat at a table. On today's menu was fried chicken and vegetables. It was if someone knew his favourite food and decided to treat him for once. Isa scanned the cafeteria and saw Xehanort at a table alone probably waiting on Braig and Ansem. Xehanort smiled and winked at Isa, then made a signal for Isa to eat up. Isa smiled and did so.
His attention was diverted to the group entering the room. Aeleus, Braig, Dilan and Ansem all entered laughing about something Lea had said. Yes, Lea was there too, being the centre of attention as always. Lea was smiling like a maniac.
'He hardly knows them and yet he's acting as if he's known them all his life!' Isa thought. 'Lea keeps doing this and it makes no sense! First that blonde kid and now these people!'
Lea and the group sat down and Isa became even more annoyed when Lea didn't sit next to him, even though it was impossible since Ienzo was sitting there, but he sat diagonally from him.
'Why is he doing this? He's still laughing and smiling with them. He hasn't even asked me how I am!"
"Oh, Isa did everything go okay?" Lea asked, still smiling.
'Too late.' "Yeah," Isa answered shortly.
"Are you sure, you seem bothered to me!" Lea pressed.
"I'm fine."
Lea knew that was not true but guessed that Isa was not going to cause a scene in front of everyone so there was no point in asking him now. He'd ask later. He started joking with the others again.
'Lea!' Isa's thoughts raged on, 'You know when I say that, I'm not actually okay! Do you even know me anymore?'
"Yeah Xeh's always in a crappy mood with me!" Braig laughed, banging the table. He was talking rather loudly for someone who was talking about someone in the same room.
"Ha ha, well I don't think he hates anyone more than me!" Lea voiced. "One time he yelled at me for asking why we had to do that experiment thingy straight away. It was completely uncalled for. Complete lunatic is what he is! Right, Isa?"
'Just shut up Lea I am fed up of your constant talking."
"Isa?" Lea repeated, reaching a hand over to tap his arm.
"Oh, maybe he's just stressed since we all know what scientists here have to tackle things emotionally," Isa replied, sounding a lot more nasty than he meant.
"Actually, I dunno how that is. They still don't trust me enough to let me be a scientist!" Lea pointed out. This gained yet more laughter from the men.
'Don't do it, Isa. Just don't…'
"Well, maybe if you stopped acting like a complete idiot all the time you would be allowed!" Isa snapped, standing from the table and slamming his hands down onto it.
The whole cafeteria went silent. Lea was in shock. Lea knew Isa and his constant sarcastic comments to him, but this did not seem sarcastic. Plus, Isa could never even speak to a group this size, never mind act in this way. Isa felt tears in his eyes as he stormed out of the room where everyone's eyes followed his every move. Silence lingered for a bit as Lea followed him.
Isa was bundled up into a corner of the hallway, twiddling his auntie's pendant between his fingers and thumb and sobbing uncontrollably. Lea sat beside him and awkwardly tried to hug him but Isa smacked his arm away.
"C'mon Isa, just tell me what's wrong!" Lea said sympathetically.
"That's the problem!" Isa cried.
"What is?" Lea asked.
"I dunno why I reacted that way! I don't know why I'm crying! And I don't know why I'm so…*sniff* angry!" He was half crying, half laughing at this point.
"I think somebody didn't have enough sleep," Lea said as if talking to a baby. Isa turned again and glared at him. "I was kidding Is' seriously!"
"Just go away!" Isa returned to the uncontrollable sobs.
"Isa just…" Lea voiced.
"LEAVE ME ALONE!" he screamed and then faltered, "I-I think I'll get in better alone for now."
Lea couldn't comprehend at this point but any further action would make Isa's state worse. He left to go to the cafeteria and on the way passed Xehanort heading in Isa's direction.
'I want to see him get screamed at,' Lea schemed, hid behind a wall and watched the scene. He saw Xehanort talking to a crying Isa and then he sat beside him. After a minute or two he had pulled Isa into a hug and Isa… cried. No screaming or hitting. Just crying and being comforted by Xehanort. 'Why is he acting like this? Why did he lash out at me? What did I do?'
The afternoon. The skies were darker and the moon shone more, but the sun was still too bright.